Surkhet, October 4
Chyangra brought from Upper Dolpa for Dashain sales have begun making their way towards Pokhara and Kathmandu via Mustang.
The goats were brought from Chharkatangsong Rural Municipality in Upper Dolpa to Mustang by crossing the Himalayan terrain on foot.
Traders from Tripurasundari Municipality in Dolpa are now transporting the chyangra through Mustang towards markets in Pokhara and Kathmandu.
According to trader Shivananda Giri of Tripurasundari, traders are aiming to bring more than 1,000 chyangra to the market this year in response to consumer demand.
“We are bringing the chyangra down to the markets after crossing the mountains. We have started bringing them down based on consumer demand,” Giri said.
A difficult journey from the highlands to the market
Bringing chyangra from Upper Dolpa to the market is far from an easy journey.
The mountainous terrain means the animals have to be herded on foot over long distances. The chyangra are brought down towards Mustang after crossing high-altitude areas, including the Bhyarol region, before being transported onwards through Pokhara to other markets.
Their journey connects the high Himalayan grazing grounds with consumers’ kitchens in the cities.
Demand for chyangra traditionally rises during Dashain, prompting traders to collect the animals from Upper Dolpa and transport them to major markets for sale during the festival.
